Dallas Cowboys Blog

OBSERVATION DECK:
Here’s what I saw from the seventh Cowboys’ training camp practice (the first at night) Thursday from the Alamodome in San Antonio:

• Recently re-signed DE Jason Hatcher had a great first practice Thursday night. Early in team drills, he stopped RB Phillip Tanner at the line of scrimmage on a run up the middle. He then bolted past the offensive line for a would-be sack of QB Stephen McGee.

• Starting CB Mike Jenkins was back in team drills after not doing them Wednesday while still shaking off a stinger.

• Alan Ball, a safety last season, was working at second-team cornerback in his first practice of camp.

• RB Lonyae Miller had a good run early in team drills. He bolted to the left side and was in the secondary untouched.

• QB Stephen McGee made a nice throw down the seam to WR Titus Ryan in team drills. McGee has been accurate in camp so far and shown nice touch on his deep passes. QB Jon Kitna struggled with his accuracy Thursday.

• The Cowboys did kick-blocking drills for the first time this camp. Players rushed in and dove at a ball while landing on a mat.

• Undrafted rookie free agent WR Raymond Radway (Abilene Christian/McKinney North) continued his impressive start to camp. He took a reverse around the left side and showed his great speed, bolting into the secondary untouched. Later, Radway ran right past rookie CB Josh Thomas and was wide open deep, but QB Jon Kitna overthrew the pass.

• With 14 seconds left on the clock, RB Felix Jones caught a pass over the middle and slid down. But the Cowboys couldn’t spike the ball in time to get a field goal attempt off before the clock ran out.

• The Cowboys worked more on their last-second offense. Starting kicker David Buehler and undrafted rookie free agent Dan Bailey each had an opportunity after rushing onto the field with the clock winding down. Buehler made a 44-yard field goal and Bailey countered with a 50-yarder.

• WR Dez Bryant made an all-out diving attempt on a deep pass from Tony Romo in 7-on-7 drills and couldn’t hold onto the catch as he hit the ground.

• Pee-wee Herman was at Cowboys’ practice Thursday night in a gray suit with a red bowtie. He took some to pose for a photo with Jerry Jones and his sons, Stephen and Jerry Jr. No word on if coach Jason Garrett will hang it up at Valley Ranch as another motivational photo.

• In team drills midway through practice, DE Kenyon Coleman jumped off sides and OT Jermey Parnell had a false start. LB DeMarcus Ware again bolted into the backfield and would have sacked Tony Romo.

• WR Manuel Johnson made a nice catch between two defenders in the middle of the field to close out 7-on-7 drills.

• WR Kevin Olgetree and Tony Romo had some miscommunication on a route in team drills. Romo threw short while Ogletree ran down the sideline.

• WR Jesse Holley dropped a pass deep on a post route in team drills. Holley beat CB Alan Ball and was open. The ball hit his hands in stride and he dropped it. TE Martellus Bennett also had a drop in the left flat.

• Rookie first-round pick OT Tyron Smith had a false start late in team drills during the two-minute offense.

• TE Jason Witten dropped a touchdown pass over the middle from Tony Romo with 23 seconds left during a two-minute drill.